Did you know...facts about wildlife!
Did you know...?
Robins are one of the only UK birds to sing all year round
You will notice this especially in autumn as it is a quiet period for bird song. The robin starts its autumn song after he has moulted, from late summer onwards. It is more subdued and melancholy in tone compared with spring’s upbeat song.
Seeds and other bird food are better for garden birds than bread
Although people often put out bread for the birds in their garden, bread is not an ideal food for birds. They would much rather have foods such as seeds, unsalted peanuts and table scraps such as cooked pasta or rice, boiled potatoes, cheese, uncooked and unsalted bacon rind. Check first though that any peanuts are aflatoxin free! Read more in our bird feeding guide.
Frogs, toads and newts hibernate too!
Our native amphibians spend the winter tucked away in compost heaps, dead wood or under decking/sheds/patios. Some amphibians, such as common frogs, can hibernate at the bottom of ponds by breathing through their skin. These animals go into a deep sleep over the winter, but they may venture out in milder weather to look for food. You can help your local amphibians by leaving parts of your garden untouched such as piles of leaves and dead wood and by having a compost heap.
Squirrels do not hibernate
It is common for people to make the mistake of thinking that red and grey squirrels hibernate – they don’t! Squirrels are not able to store enough energy to last through winter and so cannot survive long enough without feeding. Instead they hide food (called ‘caching’) to eat during the winter months.
Tawny owlets can climb back up into the nest if they fall out
Baby tawny owlets (owlets) are able to hop from perch to perch in trees, even when they cannot yet fly. This is called ‘branching’. If a tawny owlet falls out of the tree, it can branch from the ground back up into the nest all by itself!
Grey squirrels are not native to Britain
Our native squirrel is the red squirrel, which are now very rare and only found in certain parts of the UK. Grey squirrels are native to North America but were introduced to about 30 sites in England and Wales in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Since then they have spread through England, Wales and much of Scotland, replacing the native red squirrel.
Red fox cubs are born black
When fox cubs are born (normally in March) they are born blind and deaf with short black fur. They do not start to turn red until they are around five to six weeks old and are out of the den and above ground. This is in an important time for cubs, as they are learning survival skills from their mother (the vixen) and starting to find food themselves. Even though they are becoming more independent, the vixen will be close by, keeping an eye on the cubs. Unfortunately people often mistake a lone fox cub as being abandoned and think they need rescuing. Fox cubs are always best left where they are, unless injured or in genuine need of help. They have a far better chance of survival in the wild and should only be taken into captivity as a last resort. Find out more about foxes.
Hedgehogs need to be a certain weight in order to hibernate.
To be able to survive hibernation hedgehogs need to have fat reserves. You can help your resident hogs by leaving out food such as minced meat, fresh liver, cat or dog meat (not fish-based), crushed dog biscuits (to add bulk), or even chopped boiled eggs. Find out more about how to create a hedgehog friendly garden.
The UK is home to some reptiles, including snakes
In Britain there are three native species of snake: the adder, the grass snake and the smooth snake. Only one of these has any venom – the adder. Often people mistake a slow worm for a snake – a slow worm is actually a legless lizard. All native snakes in the UK are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Find out more about the laws that protect our wildlife.